SAN ANTONIO, TX--(Marketwire - Sep 1, 2011) - As the economy continues to languish and many wonder how they will make ends meet, San Antonio college student Elizabeth (Liz) Tiend is "carving" her own path. Nineteen-year-old Tiend is a sales representative for Vector Marketing, the direct sales division of Cutco Cutlery Corporation, the largest manufacturer and single-level direct seller of high-end kitchen cutlery in North America. Since she began selling Cutco in May, Tiend has sold more than $23,000 worth of cutlery -- enough to support herself and her studies at St. Mary's University.

In February 2011, Tiend underwent major surgery to correct a blockage in her stomach, forcing her to drop out of school during the second semester of her freshman year. The soon-to-be sophomore is now enrolled in summer school at St. Mary's and is ready to begin her sophomore year in the fall -- thanks in large part to selling Cutco.

"Selling Cutco has definitely provided me with the financial resources to continue my studies, but it has also taught me that I can do anything that I set my mind to, including overcoming the challenges in my life," Tiend says.

Tiend credits the mentorship and culture of Vector Marketing for her success -- personal and professional. "When I began selling Cutco, I was very shy, and I didn't want to call on people I didn't know," she says. "But my manager, Marcus Robbins, taught me exactly how to approach people with respect and confidence. Working with Marcus and everyone at Vector has taught me how to gain confidence in myself and my abilities. I now know that with the proper motivation, determination, and hard work, there is nothing I can't do."

The 62-year-old Cutco Cutlery sells its products through a national network of college students who sell through in-home personal demonstrations. These students learn a wide range of entrepreneurial skills that can benefit them with Vector Marketing and other careers, including:

Making presentations

Time management

Teamwork

Customer service

Closing techniques

Generating sales leads

Although Tiend started out with just two referrals in San Antonio, she has now built a base of more than 200 referral prospects. She has enjoyed her Vector sales experience so much that she has decided to switch her major from pre-med to business.

About Cutco Cutlery and Vector MarketingCutco Cutlery, based in Olean, New York, is the largest kitchen cutlery manufacturer in North America. Founded 62 years ago, Cutco sells its products through its sales division, Vector Marketing, which recruits and trains a network of college students throughout Canada and the United States. The company estimates that more than 13 million U.S. households have Cutco products.